Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Masters in Management Science (Business Administration), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / This study investigates the influence of the selected financial management fundamentals towards the financial stability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Durban. The SMEs play an important role in the South African economy, by developing new skills. The study was descriptive and quantitative in nature. The tool used in collecting data was a questionnaire, which was self-administered and distributed at the business location of the respondents, with a minimal number of respondents receiving the questionnaire after it was scanned and emailed to them. The respondents consist of following different sectors of SMEs in Durban; trading, manufacturing, industry and Accounting firms. The results obtained were based on the supporting objectives of the study. The findings achieved show that financial reporting contributes indirectly towards the financial stability of the business. The study found that the lack of understanding of financial reporting and insufficient financial experience would have an influence on the financial stability of SMEs. Factors that were found to affect the credibility of financial reporting include poor administrative control of resources, as well as a lack of accurate information and financial data, which results in incorrect financial reports. Other factors found, in establishing the contribution and relationship between financial reporting and financial stability, include: lack of knowledge, lack of financial control processes, and weak cooperation among staff, with training, education, and financial reports management, as well as upgrading and modification of the accounting system The majority of the respondents have experience in the finance sector, and while most have access to training, there are little or no follow-up programmes by internal or external users of financial reports, such as shareholders, banks or the government. As a result, recommendations are made to develop short accounting programmes that will allow owners and accounting staff to gain practical experience in the financial reporting background, which will enable an increase in the level of understanding of financial reporting processes and usability of allocating financial information correctly.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology: Entrepreneurship, Durban Institute of Technology, 2011. / This study focused on a feasibility analysis of establishing entrepreneurs in the Bangladesh area of Chatsworth. Ute purpose of the research was to investigate strategies that would enable the development and promotion of entrepreneurship in the area, The researcher has noted from experience, living in an area contiguous to Bangladesh, that there is a serious shortcoming with regard to-entrepreneurial skills among people in depressed communities. The researcher needed to consider strategies of empowering them to earn a decent living. This research project looked at the Bangladesh area, which is indeed a very poor region in Chatsworth. Moreover, -the statement of purpose was to examine theoretical constructs related to entrepreneurship which would enable and empower depressed communities to become economically self-sufficient. In addition, the key objective of the study was to undertake an empirical investigation in the area of Bangladesh to determine the needs of the community with respect to development of entrepreneurship and to make recommendations for the economic upliftment of the community. The findings suggest that the people in the Bangladesh area want to embrace entrepreneurship. However, their main concerns are accessto finance, education and training. The existing small businesses in the area need financial assistance to grow and the people who want to start businesses need to have access to affordable finance. The present Government policy is to encourage the development of entrepreneurship both at community level and in educational provision. / M

A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Poverty reduction and employment creation are some of the top United Nations Millennium Development goals as per the UN Summit of 2000. In both the developed and developing world this can best be achieved through an increase in employers. In the developing world, especially in Africa, small, medium and micro enterprises have been found to be the engine driving employment creation, economic development and poverty reduction. Having mentioned the crucial role, small and micro enterprises play in the economy and wellbeing of the people, their sustenance, success and continuity are of vital importance. Many small and micro businesses are started every year but most of them fail in their infancy due to a number of problems they face, especially lack of financial planning knowledge which is the main reason for embarking on this study. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the reality of financial planning knowledge among small and micro enterprises, especially from the perspective of owner-managers. An exploration is undertaken to see and understand their perception and attitude towards financial planning processes. The study proposes to find out what financial planning knowledge the owner-manager has tools they are currently employing in their businesses and whether or not, and to what extent do, they implement the advice from financial experts. The research wants to further explore what financial information is collected, recorded, how it is used (or not) to make business decisions and evaluate the enterprise’s success or failure in relation to what they know, use and implement as far as financial planning is concerned. The study used a quantitative technique to collect data and a questionnaire was personally administered to 100 respondents in the Durban CBD including Warwick Triangle and the response rate was 100%. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The overall findings of the study were that most of the small and micro enterprises do not understand what financial planning is or what is involved in financial planning hence their inability to properly plan their finances and manage their businesses accordingly. Some of them were found to be able to calculate a mark-up on their selling price but no records were kept. For those who have a chance to get some advice from a financial expert, do implement the advice given, but in their own way they see suitable for their particular businesses. However, they do not implement the exact advice as given only in the form they see fit for their enterprises.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa (SA) contribute significantly to job creation, wealth, social stability, economic growth and reduction of poverty. While research has been conducted, with regard to customer’s perception for entire world, not too many studies have focused on the automotive sector, with specific reference to the Durban Metropolitan areas. Therefore the understanding of the factors affecting Automotive SMEs are clearly defined and explained, in order to help entrepreneurs to improve product quality and attract customers to the business. Furthermore, the study focused on examining the customers’ perceptions towards product quality. The research sample was selected using convenience sampling because populations are easily available to the researcher. The target population for this study were all owners of SMEs in the automotive sector in Durban. Based on the census study, the sample size of the study was 120 owners of the SMEs in the Durban Metropolitan Areas. A combined method of both quantitative and qualitative techniques were employed, while the analysis of data was done using the Statistics Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 23.0, with the result presented by figures developed in Microsoft Excel and cross tabulation tables. Various techniques were tested such as (Pearson Chi-square Test, qualitative analysis and, factor analysis). However, the report based on testing techniques were as follows: The result of the gender participants of males were greater than females who participated in the study. Therefore, the Pearson Chi-square Test was done and the result state that p = .000. Qualitative analysis was tested and the result report of “what exactly are the customers’ perceptions towards product quality in the business”. However, the result of the qualitative analysis shows that the larger number of the respondents, they felt that “good customer service” were their customers’ perceptions in the study. Factor analysis was also tested using KMO and Bartlett’s Test to present results. The result of Bartleytt’s Test of Sphericity was = 212.800; Sig = .000 this indicated that the data were appropriate for the purpose of factors analysis. The result of Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy was = .609. This result shows that there were sufficient items for each factor. The findings of the study revealed that lack of managerial skills and development negatively compromises product quality of the automotive sector. The findings further revealed that creativity and necessary entrepreneurial skills influence implementation of sustainable growth of SMEs, and the entrepreneur’s success depends on the identification of crucial entrepreneurial skills for starting a business as well as for helping the business to survive and grow in the early stages. Therefore, capacity building for SME owners to sustain business growth is recommended. The results of the study further revealed that the absence of financial support from financial institutions delays the improvement of stock in the business as this is an obstacle resulting in the unsustainability of the SMEs in the long term. / M

This study investigated the relationship between individual knowledge transfer methods, self-study and work experience and behaviour patterns, facilitation, conduct and ability in the development of SMEs. This study further sought to find out if gender had an effect on the behaviour patterns. The study is empirical and cross sectional in nature. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 employees of selected SMEs in Durban-South Africa. Findings show that there is a positive, significant relationship between the knowledge transfer method self-study and behavioural aspects, facilitation, conduct and ability. In addition, this study found that work experience had an insignificant correlation with facilitation, conduct and ability. Finally, the study found that there are no gender differences in terms of facilitation, conduct and ability. It is recommended that all the stakeholders in the SME sector continuously analyse the internal organisational environment to ensure that knowledge resources are effectively used for productive employees’ behaviour. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

This study investigated the relationship between individual knowledge transfer methods, self-study and work experience and behaviour patterns, facilitation, conduct and ability in the development of SMEs. This study further sought to find out if gender had an effect on the behaviour patterns. The study is empirical and cross sectional in nature. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 employees of selected SMEs in Durban-South Africa. Findings show that there is a positive, significant relationship between the knowledge transfer method self-study and behavioural aspects, facilitation, conduct and ability. In addition, this study found that work experience had an insignificant correlation with facilitation, conduct and ability. Finally, the study found that there are no gender differences in terms of facilitation, conduct and ability. It is recommended that all the stakeholders in the SME sector continuously analyse the internal organisational environment to ensure that knowledge resources are effectively used for productive employees’ behaviour. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)